Suggest More Fish For My 60g

[Yellowsound]

Hi there,

I've lost a fish here & there over the last 3 years, and I'm down to a Brazilian Fireball Angel and a Melanurus Wrasse. I'd like to get my fish population back up again- my SPS need the fish poop

My biggest concern is the potential for new fish getting bullied. My wrasse and angel have both been model citizens... they've never shown signs of aggression towards any of the other fish that I've had. They are very well established though, so I don't necessarily expect that behavior to persist if I introduce new fish.

I'd gladly take any fish suggestions and/or advice on how to add the new fish in a way that might help reduce aggression. For instance, I'm considering adding multiple fish at once in hopes that it would be less likely that any one fish would be targeted.

Good idea?

 

[Yellowsound]

Some fish that I'm considering:

orchid dottyback
midas blenny
flasher or fairy wrasse
shrimp goby
royal gramma
small school (3) of chromis

I wouldn't add all of these-they're just a few that I'm thinking about...

 

[jrwoltman]

I love all of your choices, but if you are going to do chromis, I would do 6 or more, not 3.

 

[Yellowsound]

I would love to add 6. Curious, though: what do you feel is magical about the number 6 vs. 3?

 

[Dilan Patel]

6 is more chromis thus letting more chromis to take a beatng from the bully instead of just 1. It helps disperse the aggression. I reccomenfd 10 or more to have better success. I also know your system could handle it.

 

[jrwoltman]

I would love to add 6. Curious, though: what do you feel is magical about the number 6 vs. 3?

It is not a magic number, with chromis more is always better. Generally, what happens is the largest chromis starts bullying the smaller ones...to death. With a larger amount of fish, the bullying gets shared among all the of smaller ones, instead of one getting singled out and harassed to death. You have a decent sized tank with currently only two fish, so for the well being of the chromis, I would get a large group, minimum of six, but more would be better. They have such a small bioload that you could probably even do ten, yes, adding them all at once, if they are small ones. I love chromis, I had them in my old 75, and they are always so busy and interesting. Good luck.

 

[Yellowsound]

I definitely get the concept of more chromis=disperse aggression. But 6-10 in a 60g tank? I should add that my tank is 36" long- not 48". That just feels like a lot of chromis for the size of my tank. I'm not even thinking bioload, here- just wondering if I have enough space to handle a group that size.

 

[Dilan Patel]

you definetly do. Chromis like to swim in schools and it would be neat in your tank. like jrwoltman said minimumk of 6 in your tank would be fine but 10 would be best. They still would have plenty of room to grow and swim. Also the fact that they don't add a bunch of bioload is awesome.

 

[eatbreakfast]

I like the midas blenny.

I would also suggest a flame or longnose hawk. They are hardy, colorful, and can take care of themselves.

 

[Yellowsound]

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions... sincerely appreciated.

Jrwoltnan & Dilan: I do think I'll go for the larger group of chromis. That should make for a great display!

eat breakfast: hawk fish... nice idea. I'll think about that one.

Do you have direct experience w/ a midas blenny? I've always wanted one, but heard that they sometimes tear the fins of other fish.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions... sincerely appreciated.

Jrwoltnan & Dilan: I do think I'll go for the larger group of chromis. That should make for a great display!

eat breakfast: hawk fish... nice idea. I'll think about that one.

Do you have direct experience w/ a midas blenny? I've always wanted one, but heard that they sometimes tear the fins of other fish.

Midas blennies can vary from individual to individual. The vast majority are excellent members of the community, however some few can be pretty protective of their favorite spots.

 

[shrimped]

My stocking list if I had a 60 gallon: Florida Keys Yellow Head Jawfish Pair, Swissguard Basslet, Hybrid Neon Cleaner Goby, Sunburst Anthias, Super Male Pintail Wrasse, Yasha White Ray Goby with Randall's Pistol Shrimp, Helfrichi Firefish, Captive Bred Rainford Goby, x5 Panamic Barnacle Blenny, Green/Blue Mandarin Dragonet, Janss Pipefish Pair, Either a Yellow Eye Kole Tang if you are pushing it-Potters Angel if you are risky-Golden Rhomboid Supermale if you are safe.

 

[Reef_Tank_Fan_SC]

A lot of really good ideas coming your way in here. I am a huge fan of the flame angel myself. I put one in a tank with two damsels that had been there for a while and he totally took care of himself. Not to mention it is a beautiful orange and purple....

 

[shrimped]

Golden assessors are pretty sweet. Love them swimming upside down in Suncoral filled caves.

 

[Yellowsound]

Definitely a lot a great ideas, guys- thanks!

There was a suggestion for a flame angel and potters angel... I love both of those fish. Don't forget, though, that I already have a Brazilian fireball angel. Pretty sure my system is too small for more than one dwarf angel.

Shrimpar0306- that's quite a few fish to consider! Lots to think about here...

 

[Yellowsound]

Dang, I was really into the idea of the flame hawk... and just realized that my fire shrimp probably wouldn't last the night w/ a flame hawk in there. Bummer.

 

[shrimped]

Dang, I was really into the idea of the flame hawk... and just realized that my fire shrimp probably wouldn't last the night w/ a flame hawk in there. Bummer.

Flame hawks are exactly like angels. Angels have a chance to either pick on corals or be a model citizen in a reef tank. Hawkfish can either have a liking to tempura or have no interest in tempura. If the shrimp is bigger than the hawkfish can swallow the shrimp is most likely to live.

 

[eatbreakfast]

Usually if the shrimp is in the tank first and/or big enough not to be swallowed, they are sage.

I have 3 cleaner shrimp and 2 blood shrimp with my flame hawk pr.

 

[Bearded Dan]

Just curious, what does the filtration on this tank look like?

 

[Yellowsound]

Hey Bearded Dan,

I have a Deltec SCA1351 skimmer, GFO/carbon reactor, and I do 5 gallon water changes approx 1x/week.